Gauge for measuring and indicating the hardness of various substances



Nov. 2,v 1948. w, F, SHORE GAUGE FOR MEASURING AND INDIC'IINCT THE vHARDNESS 0F VARIOUS sUBsTANcEs Filed Feb. 27. 1946 E .www www www] www .www Q Patented Nov. 2, 1948 `GAUGE FOR MEASURING" AND" INDICATING` THE HARDNESS OF VARIOUS SUBSTANCES '1 Williamnshore, rreepm, N. Y.` appease@ .February 27, 19461,' serial No,l 65ans'- i This invention .relates to gauges for measuring 'f claims; (c1. 73481 and indicating the hardnessl of various substances; f

including metals and'is particularly adapted-rior ascertaining the hardness of rubber and like substances. i

The present invention is an improvement upon the invention disclosed in Letters -Patent Nor 1,768,639, granted to me and Albert F; Shore July 1,1930, for Gauges, and it is the primary object of the invention to provide a gauge for measuring and indicating the hardness of substances of this character Whereinall unnecessary friction between parts is eliminated and to provide `a more consistent and accurately operating'guage;

It is another. object of the invention to provide an improved gauge for measuring and indicating the hardness ci substances including a support arranged with an abutmenton which `is mounted a dial and a pointer movable relative to the dial, resilient means anchored on the support carrying a penetrator or indentor to engage in anopening in the abutment and nonnallyprojectedto a predetermined extent4 through 'the abutment opening, the support being adapted to engage. the penetrator under pressure with the ksubsta'ncejtl'ie hardness of which is to be ascertained and the penetrator moved. relative to the abutment against'the tension ofthe resilient meanspro-V portional to. the resistance of the substance to penetration thereof by the penetrator, andv means operatively connecting, the penetratorz with the pointer toftransmit the .movement of the 'penetrator to and move the pointer relative to thedial in predetermined ratio to the movement of rthe penetrator.. l

Heretofore in measuring and indicating gauges of this character and as disclosed in the here# inbefore mentioned Letters Patent the indicating means including a graduated dial and apointer movable relative thereto is mounted in. a casing which inturn is mounted on a second casing arranged vvith a'tubular projectingrabutmentlin which a penetrator or indentor is. slidable' and also containing the measuring meansA actuatedby the movement of the penetrator` into the casing and means actua-ted by the measuring means to move the vpointer relative to the dial 'in pre` determined' ratio to the movement of the measuring means, and the4 indicator casing. mounted on a rack bar Aslidably` carried by a press frame arranged with means to actuate the rack bar With the casings to forcibly engage the penetrator with the substance the hardness of which is to be ascertained. While the measuring" means and indicating` means carried thereby `maybel transe 2 i portedvvithzthe: press frame to different locations of the' substances the hardness oiiwhicrhaisxtoibe ascertained .itis cumbersome to do so;

Itis va furthen Lobject of therinvention to pr. vide a compact structure of gauge forithispurpose wherein lthe".measuring and indicatingmeans. are

` ingna' penetrator- .cslidable1`:in; theaperforationf or otra unitary structure caitrie'dlbyazsingle support which may u be l readily .transported Tand rnalnipu-z latest` comprising anwopen" `side casingtariranged mtham :abutment `-or:` base having jan opening tlrereinxinflinewuiith tl'le anis offthe` casineiiand the casi-ng. having mounted :therein and disposed-:at the .open sideia dialand alpointermovabierelae tive ctl'iereto adamtecl-4 .to tbe.: observed. through L= a transparent closure for `the open side .ofl .the cas ing, resiliientlfnreansl anchiouedinetlie casing icarryf' opening inthe abutmentror base ci the casing and urged by# the resilient: means to position` toi project to afpredfeterminecb extent from: the opening; and means. fior operativeiy `connectiner:` the penetrator to and actuating the pointer-relative tothe dialin predetermined."ratior:` tor. the f 'mrn'leirnfentxi` oil the penetratoriv imparted .thereto by the .resistance `of thefsubstance theHardnessoitwnicnais to bei as# certained` to `ther penetration thereofA by the penetrato-r;` and .l said.: .leasing f. :provid'e'ctf :with 1 knob adapted .tor be: grasped bythe ,liand: to manipulate the:i gaugeA to :engage `the .penetration under pres'- sure with the substance the hardness of" which isvto; be ascertained.

@ther objectsvandadvantagesr'ci tne-tinventicn with` hereinafter appear.' v i In.l the drawing' accompanying r and forming part of this application-.there `is illustrated an embodiment ofthe irripsovedsauge iormeasuring andA indicatingthe liardnessl` of i substances', wherein'. i 7

Figure 1 isa-front elevati-on of tlie gauge'with portions or the diali broken away to illustrate operative parts` oi the gauge.`

1 Figurefis a sectional viewttalnen` ontheline llt-'neuer Figure 1` looking inthe-direction of'itne arrows#and Fiure 'is a sectionalV vView takenon the line Bel-B" ot Figure I" 'looking ``invthe direction of` the arrovvs;A e

1in-'the eirilcod'iment` 'ci tire-invention illustrated in thedrawing the operative-"parts of the gauge aremountedupon a `'support for fram-e* compri ng atbacklplateli `anda frontplate M91 off-dess length andwidtn than-the beerput@ secureat the back' plate; to extendlongitudinally"from" one end of and in Aparallel*spaced reiatio'rrto the` baci; plate intermediate' theL fldngitu'dinal 'edges thereof 3 by screws 248 extended through openings in the opposite ends of the front plate with the screw heads abutting said `plate and the screws threaded into one end of spacing members or posts 241 disposed between the plates and fixed at the opposite ends in or to the back plate.

A dial 235 calibrated in values representative of pressure is mounted centrally thereof on the front frame plate by screws 236 with the center substantially midway the ends of the back plate and intermediate the longitudinal edges thereof.

A pivot member or shaft 255 is rotatably supported in the front and back plates of the supporting frame axially of the dial with a portion of the shaft projecting through the dial on which is mounted a pointer 231 Vto have rotation with the shaft relative to the dial, the pointer being urgedA to normal zero position in engagement with an abutment or stop in the form of a screw 238A threaded into and projecting from the face of the dial by a spring 256 coiled about the shaft 255 and anchored at one end to a post 259 fixed in the back plate of the frame and at the opposite end to the flange 251 of a pinion 253 fixed on the shaft 255.

Sensitive resilient means adapted to be inuenced under slight Variations in pressure and carrying an indentor or penetrator is anchored to a block 260 secured by screws 26| to the end of the back plate 244 opposite the end from which the front frame plate extends and extending from the face of the back plate. This resilient means comprises a leaf spring member, shown as a pair of leaf springs 262 anchored at one end to opposite faces of the block 266 to extend in parallel spaced relation with one spring disposed at one side and the other spring atfthe opposite side of the pointer carrying shaft 255 by engaging one end of the springs in recesses in said faces of the block and secured in the recesses by deflecting the opposite walls of the recesses over the springs, as shown in Figures 1 and 3.

The penetrator 'or indentor' is in the form of a pin 266 having a tapered end mounted in a carrier therefor consisting of a member of right angle or L form 265, the penetrator being mounted in an opening adjacent the end ofthe angle portion of the carrier of shorter length to extend at a right angle therefrom and secured in said opening by a set screw 261.

To maintain the free ends of the leaf springs 262 in spaced relation and connect the penetrator carrier 265 thereto, a block 263 is engaged between the free ends of the springs with a portion of said block extending beyond the ends of the springs. The springs are secured to said block and to the penetrator carrier by screws 264 extended through openings in the leaf springs and the block and threaded into openings in the end of the vangle portion of greater length of the penetrator carrier, as shown in Figure 2.

To ascertain the hardness of substances the penetrator is 'engaged with the substance and pressure applied thereto by the frame through the leaf springs, the hardness `of the substance beingmeasured by the resistance of the substance to the penetration thereof by the penetrator moving the penetrator with its carrier 265 against the tension of and progressively increasing the ten- Sion of the leaf springs and indicating on thedial by the pointer the pressure resisted by the substance to thek penetration thereof by the penetrator, the pointer being moved relative to the dial in predetermined ratio to the movement of the penetrator and its carrier. Toiactuate the j pointer from the movement of the penetrator carrier a gear segment 250 is mounted on and rotatable with a pivot pin or shaft rotatably supported by the frame plates adjacent the left hand end thereof, as shown at 25| in Figure 1. The teeth of the gear segment mesh with a pinion 258 fixed on and rotatable with the pointer carrying shaft 255. The segment is operatively connected to and rocked from the movement of the penetrator carrier by a pvot stud 254 fixed at one end to and projecting from the side of a plate 252 extending transversely of and disposed intermediate n the ends of the gear segment and secured thereto T by screws 253 extended through openings in the opposite ends of said plate and threaded into the gear segment, as shown in Figure 2, the pivot stud .being secured to the plate 252 by engaging a reduced end of the pivot stud in an opening in the plate intermediate the ends and peening over the end of said reduced portion. The pivot stud extends loosely through an opening in the gear segi ment and pivotally and slidably engages in a groove or recess 21|] in and extending transversely of a face of the spring connecting block 263 in a direction longitudinally of the frame, said groove being in the nature of a cam groove. When the penetrator carrier is moved against the tension of the leaf springs 262 it imparts upward movement -to the gear segment as viewed in FigureV 1 and plate and threaded into the bottom wall of the j casing and enclosed therein by a transparent closure 234, such as glass or plastic material, secured to the open side of the casing by a ring member or bezel 232 having a slip joint connection with the side wall of the casing and secured thereto by a screw -233. The casing is arranged with an abutment or base member 242 which may be integral with the casing or constructed separately from and secured to the casing as shown by screws 246, to extend transversely of the casing below and parallel with the frame as viewed in Figure 1, said base member having a flat face extending in a plane tangentially of the side wall of the casing and has an opening therethrough midway the ends in register with an opening in the side wall of the casing in line with the axis of the casing and the pointer carrying shaft 255 and into which opening the penetrator 266 extends and is projected to a predetermined extent `from the face of the base member under the influence of the leaf springs 262 which is determined and limited by an adjustable abutment in the form of a screw 258 threaded into an opening in the penetrator carrier in parallel relation to the penetrator with the projecting end of -the screw engaging the side wall of the casing, and the stop screw secured in adjusted position by a set screw 269, this positioning of the penetrator being such as to place the leaf springs under a slighttension, as shown in Figure 1. A hand engaging knob 239 having a portion of enlarged diameter the periphery of which is ribbed or knurled is secured to the sidewall of the casing to extend laterally therefrom diametrically opposite tofand in alinement with the opening in the base member by a screw 246 extended from within the casing through an opening in the side wall of the casing and threaded into a bore axially in the knob with U-afrlockvwas-hen 2 4 Irinterpose` betweenilthe screw 1etieadland thecasing. j The casingtis adaptedtolbe 1 :1manipulatled` byoengaging or graspingwtha knob wjwithri the :hand to aengageL1 the 1 penetrator y,under l :pressure with the substance the 1 hardness1 oi ffvvhichistobe ascertained. yAs Statedthe pentrai dzorl carrier, Aisf yieldingly urged to: predetermined .1;.position withlthej stopi-1screw;21til 1engagingxt-he `.icasingrwall under a slight 1"r'leiiure and .tension of :athe .-leafsprings 252. i

Ingoperation theeaoasingknob1 is grasped by thehand and the gauge; manipulated toengage `thepenetrator with the substancejunderftest and 1 rtherrlpressure of thehand is appliedto the knob @thereby forcibly pressing the penetrator against bathe substance and the penetration resistance of the substance by the penetrator movingtheypene- :trator inwardly of thebasemember, and: A.moving f: the; penetrator --carrier :therewithagainst the tten- .sion' of 1 and progressively increasing `the tension j :moving the pointer relativeto the dial inl prede- 1 termined `ratio to the movement of theipenetrator `andindicating onrtne` dial the1 pressure of the .vleaf springs resisted bytthe substance-tothe pene- 1 l tration thereof `by the penetiator..and` furnishing s 1a Waylo111expressing the 1hardness ofthe substanoein terms of pressure. 1

Y 2 Themovement of the `pointer` in predetermined 1j V'ratio ,to 1the J movement of the penetrator is A.uelfectedfby the engagement ofthe pvotstud 254 in the recess or groove 2lb in the leaf:,sprng separatingbloc'k'and connection of the pivot carrying plate 252 to the gear segment. and adjust the ratio of movement of the pointer 11 relative to the movement ofthe penetrator the lower connecting screw 253 for the pivot carrying plate 252 with the gear segment is adjustable and for which purpose the lower screw engaging opening in the plate 252i1lisle1ongated, as 'shown 1; finajEigurewl. To `efect adjustment oflthe'fplate 1:11252 the screw 253 engagingintheelongated open- .ing islloosened and said plate with the pivot stud adjusted relative. 1to.1thegeert-segment and after adjustment the plate"`252" is secured'in adjusted position by tightening up said screw. The recess 1`121'If0jper1r1its,adjustmentfof the plate 252twithout affecting the connection between said plate, the gear segment 250 and the block 263. In order that the spring connecting and separating block 263 will not interfere withtheproper exing of` the upper leaf spring 262 a portion of the upper 1 surface of the block 253 is beveled to incline toward the inner vertical surface of said block, as shown in Figure 1. l

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a gauge for measuring the hardness of` substances, a support, a leaf spring member anchored at one end on the support, a member mounted on the free end of the spring member,

a penetrator mounted on'the member and urged bythe spring member to predetermined position with the penetrator extending in a direction italiaanse To vary 1 transuersely rand::zintermediatesther;tendsoiofV the sprinarmembemaggradnatedjdiahfixemonth supvzxport; a pointerrotatablemelativeto the dialiand iyieldinglyz; urged? tto;L zeroj .y positions :saldi-:support adapted toaiorcblyimpressxthe penetratonaganst 'i `ther gsubstancegalthe;1 liardness` (Of `ewhicli; is'zfitox'fbe tested,` the penetrator-i1having; movement;` relative 11.to theisupport.against the te'nsionufofI and increase ,the:tension1 of .the spring member proportionalbt 2 10. :the: resistance 1; ofrsaid' :substance @to :the penetraf tion? `,thereof by.: then penetrator; ianduthetosllpport having movement xrelativelto. 1 the` :lpenetraton xto- 1 wardf"thefjsubstance,;1;.andrmeansrfto actuate.` zthe j pointerV relative :'torjthe.zdaltzfromaand impredev15 termined ratio toztheimovement btithevnenetr-atpr 1 an@` support, relative. :.tos each:` other [and indicate i on1t-he1sdial,fthefplessure lresistedby :the :substance 1 tofthefpenzetrationthereof bythe penetrator'. Y

v:12.1.1 Ima-1 gauge.;l fora.measuring1 ltheglhardnessrpf .20 -1substances1,:1asupport; .a1 leafi springrmembereanfchored; ,at 1 one, enden fthe :ysupport,.V poner/rater,

a" carrienrfor theipenetrator :mounted on zthe'lfree j end. .ofvsaid: springs: member f and; positioning the j g 1i penetratorto: :extend "and have 1; movement 1in@ a `.plane .substantially1perpendicular;1to1andunter 1 1mediate1rthef ends of'rthe: springrmembei-,zandmhe 1 Aspringt member4 urgingrthef penetratolnt pindej termin-ed positionsa .Lgraduated;V dial xedionztlae 1 i 1 support, aponter rotatably; moulzltect` ori th'esup- 3 report-1 1 axially of; "the .i dialiA and: yieldinglyiurgedftto izerowposition; a hand engagingzmernber' Xedito 1 .1 thefsupport 1 n` alinement :andropposedzrelatorr.to l

. @be manipulated.: 1to1 engage:thexfpenetrator:under ;g,1pressurewith thefsubstancemthe hardnessnof which eis 1' `to r be t tested:` and .the resistance of: `:the

substance tothe penetration thereoflbyrthe tpene- 1trator n'loving"they` penetrator 1 against the tension A1 ofw the r spring member: and; the supportwrelative lo ttootlle` penetrator .toward the:substance;` afpinkioyn :rotatable with they-pointer, 1 a1 `gear segment 1:piv- '1 otalfly mountedv onrtbe Vsupport mesningfwith he piniom land 'rmeans connectingal thefsegrrientl-to f 1 and imparting movement:tot,the'fsameriironslthe 5. `penetrator1-` carrier 1 proportionalto thesfmouement i f; of :the: pen-etratoro-and rsupport"relative# to each f; otherp` .and-:transmitting said: @movement he ..1gearsegmentzthroughithepinion tolanda'etua 1mg tithe pointenfrelativeto the 1dialeine-predetermined oomratio to.;thetmovement/:oilthe enetratoblan" ridicate the pressure resisteclfbyi.rthetsubstanceito [the :penetration :thereof 1 by ithe tperretrator. l

e 3.1` In la l, gauge? for measuring Itlaefk hardnessrof '55:1rationn theiside1 wallyafleaf `spring member-an- 1 1';c`nored1ationeiendfirr andfextendingitraznsv ely ofof i. the.: casing rfwithr Avthe. leasing' perforation di-'sposedbelowandfinlinevwiththe axis o-fftlfi and an intermediate portion of thespringmmber, a penetrator, a carrier on which the penetrator is mounted connected to and urged by the spring member to a position of rest with the penetrator extended to a predeterminedextent from the casing perforation and disposed in a plane perpendicular to the spring member, a dial xedly supported at the open side of thecasing, a pointer having a pivot support rotatably mounted in the casing axially of the dial and urged to normal zero position relative to the dial,A said penetrator to be engaged underpressure with the substance the hardness of which is to be ascertained bythe i casing and the casing moved relative to the pene- .trator into engagement with the substance under test by the resistance of said substance to the penetration thereof by the penetrator and move easing 7 the penetrator against the tension of the spring member in proportion to thev penetration resist- 4ance of the substance `by the penetrator, a pinion rotatable with .the pointer, a gear segment pivot- "ally supported in the casing meshing with the pinion, and means connectingithe gear segment to the penetrator carrier and rocking the segment by the movement of the penetrator and casing relative to each other and transmit said movement of the gear segment through the pinion to .and actuating .the pointer relative to the dial in substances, an open end casing having aperforation in the side Wall, a frame mounted centrally in and extending transversely of the casing with the casing perforation below said frame in alinement withvthe axis of the casing, a pair of leaf springs anchored at one end on the frame to extend in parallel spaced relation transversely of the casing with the springs at opposite' sides of the axis thereof, a penetrator, a carrier on which penetrator is mounted, means connecting the free ends of the springs in spacedrelation and to the penetrator and the springs urging the penetrator carrier in a direction to engage the penetrator in the-easing perforation, means adjustably mounted in the penetrator carrier to abut the side wall of the casing and limit said movement of the penetrator carrier, with the penetrator projecting to a predetermined extent from the casing perforation, a dial xed on the frame centrally of the open side of the casing, a pointer having a pivot rotatablyr mounted in lthe frame axially of the dial, a transparent closure forthe open side of Y trator carrier relative to the casing against the tension ofthe springs and the casing relative to v-the penetrator toward the substance, means operative to rotate the pointer relative to the dial vin predetermined ratio to the movement of the Y penetrator and casing.

5. A gauge for measuring the hardness of substances as claimed in claim 4, wherein the means .to connect the free ends of the springs in spaced relation and to thepenetrator carrier, comprises a block disposed between the free ends of the springs, and screws extended'through openings in the springs and block and threaded into the penetrator carrier.

6. A gauge for measuring the hardness of" substances as claimed in claim 4, wherein thepenetrator carrier is substantially of right angle form and the free ends of the springs are connected to the end of one angle portion and the carrier extending downwardly from the springs with the other angle portion extending longitudinallyof the springs and in which angle portion the penetrator is mounted, and the means limiting the movement of the penetrator carrier under the tension of the springs with the penetrator projecting to a predetermined extent from the casingI perforation, comprises an abutment adjustably carried by the angle portion of the penetrator carrier in which the penetrator is mounted adapted to engage the side wall of the casing at the side of the perforation.

7. In a gauge for measuring the hardness'of substances, a frame, a block secured to one end of said frame, a pair of leaf springs anchored at one end to opposite sides of said block to extend in spaced parallel relation longitudinally of the frame, a block between and maintaining the free ends of the springs in spaced relation having a recess extending transversely of a side and longitudinally of the springs, a penetratona carrier in which the penetrator is mounted, screws securing the springs and thepenetrator carrier to said block and the springs urging the carrier to position the penetrator to a predetermined extent, a graduated dial mounted on the frame, al pointer rotatably supported by the frame axially of the dial, a pinion rotatable with the pointer, a gear segment pivotally mounted on the frame meshing with said pinion, a plate adjustably mounted on the gear segment to extend transversely thereof intermediate the ends of the gear segment, and av REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name y Date 1,483,565 Adams Feb. 12, 19.24 1,549,115 Hancock Aug. 11,1925 2,324,586 Klein et al July20, 1943 2,329,827 Clark Sept. 21, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date Germany oct. 3, 1934*/ 

